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http://www.mb.com.ph/ENTR20080703128826.htmlJet Li wins Best Actor for ‘The Warlords’
We’ve all known Jet Li to be the high-flying,
ass-kicking, adrenaline-pumping martial arts hero in such blockbuster
films as "Fearless", "Unleashed", "The One" and "Romeo Must Die."
Now, fresh from the success of his box office hit "The
Forbidden Kingdom" comes his biggest action-drama movie to date. The
Asian Superstar shows off his acting chops in the new war epic "The
Warlords." His pivotal role as the ruthless and ambitious General Pang
even earned him his first-ever Best Actor nod at the Hong Kong Film
Awards.
In "The Warlords", General Pang (Jet Li) stands high
atop the city walls in the fall of 1870. Pang has taken a path of no
return; had he chosen differently, he might have been one of the heroes
to later overthrow the corrupt Qing imperial regime and establish a new
China. He could have changed the course of history but two bandits and
a woman (Xu Jinglei) have instead changed the course of his life –
helping him achieve his goal, but ultimately causing his demise. The
two bandits are his sworn blood brothers: Zhao Er-Hu (Andy Lau) and
Jiang Wu-Yang (Takeshi Kaneshiro). The woman who comes between them is
Zhao’s wife.
A born leader, Zhao Er-Hu is a man of honor. To ensure
the survival of his village during a time of war, he leads a band of
marauding bandits. Jiang Wu-Yang is a charismatic outlaw, a
cold-blooded killer full of romantic idealism. He worships Pang above
all else – including Zhao the brother who adopted him.
After a Qing troop pillages Zhao’s village, Pang
convinces Zhao to join the Qing army. Jiang agrees to the proposal
under the condition that he joins their brotherhood. With the future
interests of the village in mind, Zhao also agrees to make Pang his
blood brother. Pang’s initial motive is to end war and restore peace to
the land, but to do so he must first rise to power. As his forces grow
more powerful over the years so does his ambition. As a result, the
brotherhood collapses and ends tragically while only one brother
remains standing.
A heroic tale of three blood brothers and their
struggle in the midst of war and political upheaval, "The Warlords" is
the story of a man who was caught in between the ambition which he
believes will do good for the people, and the guilt of betraying others
for the sake of the better good.
Following the success of their 2005 romantic
extravaganza "Perhaps Love," producer Andre Morgan and
director-producer Peter Chan team up to bring us this US$ 40
million-epic hero film.
Director Peter Chan was intrigued by the historical
events, the relationship of war and brotherhood. He clarifies that "The
Warlords" is not a remake of legendary Shaw Bros. director Chang Cheh’s
classic "Blood Brothers."
The film is inspired by a true event. In the year 1850,
the suffering of the 430 million Chinese people under the corrupt rule
of the Qing dynasty set the stage for the Taiping Rebellion. During the
chaos of the decade long civil war, 50 million people died from either
hunger or battle. On July 26, 1870, Governor Ma of Liangjiang was
assassinated. The killer, Jiang Wenxiang, did not even try to flee, and
was immediately captured. The Empress Dowager Cixi ordered an
investigation.
"The Warlords" features Asia’s top actors -- Jet Li,
Andy Lau, Takeshi Kaneshiro, and the talented director-actress Xu
Jinglei ("Confessions of Pain"). Behind the camera, the crew is equally
impressive: Oscar-nominee costume designer Yee Chung Man ("Curse of the
Golden Flower"), internationally acclaimed action choreographer Ching
Siu-Tung ("Hero," "Dororo," "Shaolin Soccer," "Curse of the Golden
Flower"), and award-winning director of photography Arthur Wong.
Catch the epic drama of friendship, ambition and
betrayal as "The Warlords" opens at your favorite theaters beginning
July 9. From VIVA International Pictures.